Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Background: Despite recognition of the challenges faced by students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) there is limited understanding of the barriers and facilitators to participation in major life areas, such as being a u...

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Main Authors: Thompson, Craig, Bolte, Sven, Falkmer, Torbjorn, Girdler, Sonya
Format: Journal Article
Published: Informa Healthcare 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/73224
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author Thompson, Craig
Bolte, Sven
Falkmer, Torbjorn
Girdler, Sonya
author_facet Thompson, Craig
Bolte, Sven
Falkmer, Torbjorn
Girdler, Sonya
author_sort Thompson, Craig
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Background: Despite recognition of the challenges faced by students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) there is limited understanding of the barriers and facilitators to participation in major life areas, such as being a university student. Aim/Objective: This research aimed to examine viewpoints on what affects the success of Australian university students with ASD. Material and Method: Q-methodology was used to describe the viewpoints of university students with ASD, their parents and their mentors, on success at university for students with ASD. A total of 57 participants completed the Q-sort. Results/Findings: Three viewpoints emerged; Individualised Support, Contextual Support and Social Support. Conclusions: This study highlighted that supports need to be individualized to the barriers and facilitators faced by Australian students with ASD. Supports also need to be contextualized to the built and social environments of universities. Significance: This study supports the premise that environmental interventions can be effective in facilitating participation in major life areas, such as university education. Peer mentoring for students with ASD may have utility for this group, but should be extended to include social, emotional and psychological support.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-732242018-12-13T09:35:40Z Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university Thompson, Craig Bolte, Sven Falkmer, Torbjorn Girdler, Sonya © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Background: Despite recognition of the challenges faced by students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) there is limited understanding of the barriers and facilitators to participation in major life areas, such as being a university student. Aim/Objective: This research aimed to examine viewpoints on what affects the success of Australian university students with ASD. Material and Method: Q-methodology was used to describe the viewpoints of university students with ASD, their parents and their mentors, on success at university for students with ASD. A total of 57 participants completed the Q-sort. Results/Findings: Three viewpoints emerged; Individualised Support, Contextual Support and Social Support. Conclusions: This study highlighted that supports need to be individualized to the barriers and facilitators faced by Australian students with ASD. Supports also need to be contextualized to the built and social environments of universities. Significance: This study supports the premise that environmental interventions can be effective in facilitating participation in major life areas, such as university education. Peer mentoring for students with ASD may have utility for this group, but should be extended to include social, emotional and psychological support. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/73224 10.1080/11038128.2018.1495761 Informa Healthcare restricted
spellingShingle Thompson, Craig
Bolte, Sven
Falkmer, Torbjorn
Girdler, Sonya
Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
title Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
title_full Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
title_fullStr Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
title_full_unstemmed Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
title_short Viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
title_sort viewpoints on how students with autism can best navigate university
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/73224